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THE ERA OF THE COUNTER-REFORMATION 273 1609 matters had assumed so threatening an aspect, and the Austrian Hapsburgs were drawing so closely to their Spanish kinsmen, that Henry iv. of France was about to head what might be called an anti-Hapsburg League when he was assassinated, and French influence in Europe was lost for the time being under the regency of his widow. The real out- break was to come over the question of succession to the Crown of Bohemia. I
